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Accused killer sent abusive texts: court

A man accused of murdering his fiancee by throwing her off a high-rise balcony sent her text messages berating her for leaving the house without his "permission", documents tendered to a Sydney court show.

A few months before she died, Simon Gittany also told his partner Lisa Harnum, 30, to keep her phone next to her "always", text messages tendered to Downing Centre Local Court on Wednesday said.

Gittany, 39, has pleaded not guilty to murdering his fiancee by pushing her off the balcony of their apartment in Sydney's CBD on July 30, 2011.

CCTV footage played during his committal hearing showed Gittany grabbing Ms Harnum around the neck and mouth and dragging her back inside the apartment 68 seconds before she died.

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Gittany sent a text message to Ms Harnum on April 16, 2011, saying, "Who the f*** do you think you are walking around the house like you own it or coming and going without my permission?

"Again I waited for you to apologise for your disgusting comment but you walk around like a peacock with your hair out and too proud to apologise.

"You lied to me and promised you would listen to me all the time.

"Obviously you're still the proud person and nothing has changed!"

Ms Harnum's mother, Joan Harnum, told police Gittany criticised her daughter's clothes and hair and prevented her from going to the gym.

In a text message six months before she died, Ms Harnum told her mother, "Simon gets so uptight when we go out he makes the night turn into a nightmare".